Bishop Fianu Ordained Two New Deacons,
In a solemn ordination Mass on Monday, December 29, 2025, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, ordained Edmund and Jude to the diaconate. In his homily, the Bishop provided a formative catechism on the diaconal ministry, emphasizing its permanent call to service, whether as a step toward priesthood or as a lifelong vocation.
Bishop Fianu distinguished between the transitional deacon, who is on the path to priestly ordination, and the permanent deacon, who “does not want to be a priest” but is “dedicated to serve permanently.” He noted that permanent deacons may be married, with their family and employment being their primary responsibilities, and they are not always financially compensated by the Church.
Central to his message was the identity of the deacon as a “Herald of the Gospel.” “Not just at Mass,” he stressed, but through the “proclamation of the gospel at all times of their life.” This mission is lived out through the threefold ministry: of the Liturgy, of the Word, and of Charity.
The Bishop elaborated that beyond liturgical duties such as reading the Gospel, deacons are sent forth as “servants of Christ to bring charity to the world.” This could mean distributing food to the poor, taking the Eucharist to the sick, or teaching catechism. He reminded the ordinands that their fulfillment, as future priests, depends on how they live this ministry of service.
“May they be enriched spiritually to continue the journey,” Bishop Fianu said, imparting his final blessing. The ordination sends Rev. Edmund and Rev. Jude into the community as true ministers of the Church, called to animate its mission of charity and evangelization.